Friday, December 25, 2015

Ferocious Dog "From Without"Release date: October 5th, 2015Running time: 44:37, 11 tracksIf the Levellers were inspired by McDermott’s 2 Hours, Ferocious Dog have followed the lineage and brought their spirit to a new audience. “From Without” is the band’s second studio album and it has confirmed what fans in the UK, but also around the globe noticed when their previous album was released: Ferocious Dog are nowadays the best band on the UK folk-punk circuit.

Ken Bonsall (vocals, guitar), Dan Booth (fiddle), Les Carter (electric guitar), John Alexander (bass), Scott Walters (drums, vocals) and Ellis Waring (bouzouki, mandolin, banjo, acoustic 6 and 12 strings guitars, electric guitar and vocals) have delivered a top-notch album. Their roots are clear from the very beginning: “Gallows Justice” is a brilliant song with an early McDermott’s 2 Hours feel and the lyrics to track no. 3, “Living on Thin Air”, have been written by McDermott’s 2 Hours frontman Nick Burbridge.

Ferocious Dog are rooted on the British fiddle punk field, but their lyrics are not focused only on the UK reality. For instance, “Ruby Bridges” is a fantastic song about the the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in Louisiana during the 20th century and her teacher Barbara Henry (more info HERE). And “Marikana Massacre” is an amazing number about the killings that took place in a South African mine when the miners went on strike in 2012 (more info HERE)

Those four tracks are some of the highlights on the album, but there are a couple of numbers that I’d pick up: “Crime & Punishment” is a tale about poachers that ended up in Australia in 1865. The music to the chorus reminds me of The Men They Couldn’t Hang “Ironmasters” and the tune that has been added at the end is the one that Shane MacGowan and The Popes used on “The Snake with Eyes of Garnet”. Familiar? Yes, but not a copycat. Ferocious Dog have the skill to take familiar sounds and write a number that is totally new and fresh. And the album’s summit is reached with “Slow Motion Suicide”. If I had to choose the Song of the Year, the choice would be easy: “Slow Motion Suicide”. Miners were victims of Thatcherism and Ferocious Dog have written the definitive song for the effects of that bloody period. Poignant song and excellent hypnotic fiddling that will make you cry. If the Levellers wrote “15 Years”, Ferocious Dog have written “Slow Motion Suicide”, probably the best fiddle punk song from the last decade. If you don’t believe me, go to Shite’n’Onions and read what Neil Bates wrote about the album and particularly about this song.

The packaging is a labour of love: digipack, great album cover picture by Richard Doughty, 16 page booklet, lyrics to the songs, thank-yous, line-up … The album was produced by Matt Terry, mixed by Tom Jenkins and mixed by Al Scott (another member of the Levellers family).

“From Without” recently made the 8th place at our Best of 2015 list. I feel that their third studio album will reach a higher position. Are you looking for catchy songs, but also for songs with a message or storytelling? Then go ahead and buy a copy of “From Without”. It’s already on iTunes and other platforms, but I recommend the physical CD.